Folding table



May 1, 1945. s. DUKE 2,374,670

FOLDING TABLE Filed April 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E I 19 I 1 I 20 i 17 13 28 Z5 l v, 29 24 in! 1 v I I 1 E .32 18 2 .*1 1.9 I 15 I l 15 15/ i I i l l +3 T71rzfar 5a 112 .Duke 2am MM.

ufft'ornzys May 1, .s DUKE FOLDING TABLE Filed April 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Zh/n for; Sam .DzZ/xe Patented May 1, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a folding table.

More particularly, this invention relates to a folding table and to a collapsible leg and brace structure for effecting ready and easy collapsing and unfolding of the table legs.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a folding table, a novel collapsible combination leg and brace construction for effecting ready collapse and unfolding of the table legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel collapsible brace construction for bracing the legs of a folding table in extended or vertical supporting position and for efiecting easy and ready movement of the table legs into collapsed position below and parallel to the table top.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I new consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical folding table embodying the present invention and showing the table legs in extended or vertical position;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the folding table shown in Fig. 1 and also showing the legs in extended or vertical position;

Fig. 3 is a view, on line 33 in Fig. 2, partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation and showing, in dotted lines, different positions occupied by the combination leg and bracing units during the folding and unfolding operations;

Fig. 4 is a detail View, on line 44 in Fig. 3, partly in section, showing the elements of the brace construction in effective or bracing position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the new folding table, partly in section, showing one of the combination table leg and brace units in collapsed or folded position; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the new folding table showing one of the new combination leg and brace units in collapsed or folded position.

A typical embodiment of the present invention is shown in the drawings and comprises a folding table which is generally indicated at Hi and includes a table top H, and which may be of any desired size, shape or configuration in which may be desired to make a folding table such, for example, as a table for use as a dining table in lodge and church halls, and the like, where it is desired to fold the table and store it when not in use.

The new folding. table ill includes a pair of identical combination table leg and leg-bracing units, each of which is generally indicated at l2, and each of which includes a substantially U- shaped leg structure l3. Each of the U-shaped leg structures I3 includes-a pair of spaced parallel legs 15 and a transversely extending bight or hinge portion 53 which extends between and interconnects the legs 33. Each of these bight or hinge portions 33 is pivotally or hingedly. mounted upon the table top H, upon the side thereof, by means of U-shaped brackets M which are attached to the table top H on the underside thereof.

Each of the substantially U-shaped leg structures 13 also includes a cross b race ld, which extends between and interconnects the legs l5 and as shown in the drawings, each of'the leg structures I3 is adapted to be disposed in either vertically extending oreifective table-supporting posi-' tion, as in'Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or in folded or collapsed and ineffective position, as in Figs. 5 and 6,

this being accomplished in a manner and by means which will now be described.

Each of the, combination leg and brace structures l3 includes a bracing unit, which is generally indicated at H, and inasmuch as the bracing units I 1 arev identical in construction and operation, the construction and operation of only oneof the same will now be described in detail.

bracing members 89 and 20 and these substantially channel-shaped bracing members is and 2!! are pivotally mounted, at their axially outer ends,

asat 2i and 22, respectively, upon similar brackets 23 which are mounted upon the tabletop l l upon the under side thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

f A slight amount of play is preferably provided in the pivotal mountings 2| and 22 of the substantially channel-shaped members 19 and 20, re-

spectively, upon the brackets 23, for a reason' i which will be pointed out hereinafter.

Likewise, each of the brackets 23 has a depending flange portion 34 the purpose of which will be described 1 hereinafter.

. A hinge bolt 24 the tubular bracing member [8. The head 25 of 1 the hinge bolt 24 bears against the outer wall or side of the substantially channel-shaped member l9, as best shown in Fig. 4. A nut 26 is threaded onto th opposite and threaded end portion of the hinge bolt 24, and a washer 21 is arranged upon the hinge bolt 24 immediately inwardly of the nut 26.

A coil spring 28 is arranged upon the hinge bolt 24 and one end convolution of-this coil spring bears against the washer 21 while the other end convolution of the coil spring 28 bears against the outerside of the substantially chan nel-shaped member 20 and urges the latter into clamping engagement with the tubular bracing member l8.

welding, or soldering 39, as shown in Fig. 4.

A substantially L-shaped operating member 29 is secured to the substantially channel-shaped bracing member 19 in any suitable manner, as by This 1 operating member 29 has a foot or kick portion 3| which projects laterally from the body of the Operating member 29 at on side of the channelshaped member -l9, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 6.

3 The operating member 29 also includes a channelshaped portion 32 which is adapted to bear against and to slidably embrace a portionof the 1 correspondingly shaped but smaller channelshaped member 29 at one side thereof, as shown tion 32 of the operating member 29, to cam the inner edge portions of the two spaced or outer substantially channel-shaped bracing members i9 and 20 around the swell of the peripheral edge is extended transversely in Figs. 2 and 4, and for a reason to be pointed out hereinafter.

The use and operation of the new folding table I are as follows: When the table leg units l3 are in effective or vertically extending and'table-supporting position, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the channel-shaped bracing members l9 and 20 are disposed in embracing and clamping engagement with the peripheral edge portion of thetubular bracing member I8, said channel-shaped bracing members l9 and 20 being urged into clamping and embracing engagement with the tubular bracing member 18 by means of the coil spring 28 upon the hinge bolt 24. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, when the parts are in this position, the substantially channel-shaped bracing members l9 and .20 throughout a portion of their extent embrace a corresponding portion of the tubular bracing member I .8 and all three of the bracing members i8l920 lie in the same general plane and form, in efiect, a rigid bracing unit. In this manner the combination leg and bracing structures 13 are maintained in effective and tablesupporting position.

However, when it is desired to collapse the "table l9 and the combination leg and bracing .units I2, this may be readily accomplished by turning the table upside down and another pressing downwardly by hand or kicking downwardly 3f upwardly as seen in Fig.4) upon the laterally projecting portion 3| of the operating member 29.

Pressure thus applied upon the operating memof clamping and rigid brace forming engagement with the intermediate and tubular-shaped bracing member l8.

During this movement the channel-shaped bracing member l9 bears against the nut 25 on the hinge bolt 24 and moves the hinge bolt 24 a short distanc (left to right as seen in Fig. 4) and this movement of the hinge bolt 24 causes the washer 2i carried thereby to bear against the outer end-convolution of the coilspring 28, thereby compressing the latter. At the same time the aforesaid downward pressure upon the operating member 293l--32 and resulting movement of the inner edge portionsof the channel-shaped bracing member 20 around the swell or peripheral edge of the tubular bracing member l8 slides the channel-shaped bracing member 20 .upon the hinge bolt 24 (right to left as seen in Fig. 4) and during this movement the channel-shaped member 29 slides in the channel-shaped portion 32 of the operating member 29 and the outer surface or wall of the channel-shaped member 2|] engages the inner end convolution of the coil spring 28, thereby further compressing the latter..

The cross braces I6 may then be manually grasped and pressure exerted thereon to complete the movementof the combination leg and bracing units l2 into folded or collapsed positionparallel .to and below the table top l l, as shown in Figs. 5

and 6, and as the parts move into this position the spring 28 then coacts with the hinge bolt 24 and nut 25 to urge the channel-shaped bracing members 19 and 20 back into clamping engagement with the tubular bracing member I8, there- .by holding the leg structures l3l5-I 6 -33 and the bracing units I 8-l 9-20 and associated parts in collapsed position below the table top II, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Duringthis movement the leg structures [3 pivot or hinge upontheir supporting brackets 14 and the substantially channel-shaped bracing members I!) and 20 pivot, at 2| and 22, upon the depending flange portions 34 of their supporting brackets 23, and, together with thetubular bracing member i8, pivot about the hinge connection 24 between the three bracing members I8I929.

It will be noted that when the combination leg andbracing structures or units l2 are disposed in collapsed or folded position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tubular bracing member I8 is disposed,

throughout substantially its entire axial extent,

between the two substantially channel-shaped bracing elements l9 and 20 but, as shown in Fig. 6,

the two channel-shaped members l9 and 20 embrace or engage the tubular bracing member 18 throughout only the axially inner end portion of the tubular bracing member l8 and to this end the two substantially channel-shaped bracing members l9 and. 20 extend in orlie in a generally the brackets 23 than they are intheir axially inner end portions which clampingly engage or embrace the tubular bracing member I8. It will also be noted that during the operation of collapsing the combination leg and bracing units I2, as described above, the sleeve portion I9 of the tubular bracing element I8 swivels upon the horizontally extending cross brace I6 of the corresponding leg unit I2 and the substantially channel-shaped bracing members I9 and pivot at H and 22, respectively, upon their supporting bracket 23; and that the three bracing members I8, I9 and 20 move, relative to each other, upon their hinge connection 24.

It will be further noted, in this connection, that the distance which the substantially channelshaped bracing members I9 and 20 are required to move slidably with and upon (respectively) the hinge bolt 24, and against the action of the spring 28, is rather slight, and that such amount of movement is permitted by providing a certain amount of play in the pivotal mountings 2I and 22 of the substantially channel-shaped members I9 and 20 upon their supporting brackets 23.

As shown in the drawings, each of the supporting brackets 23 has a depending flange portion 34, to which the channel-shaped bracing members I9 and 20' are pivotally connected, and these depending flange portions 34 also serve to brace the manually grasping the cross braces I6 and pulling I downwardly or outwardly upon each of the supporting leg units I3. This action moves the substantially channel-shaped bracing members I9 and 20 with and upon (respectively) the hinge bolt 2 I against the action of the coil spring 28, in

the manner described hereinbefore, thus spreading the channel-shaped members 20 and I9 so as to provide suiiicient space therebetween to allow the tubular bracing element or member I8 to pass out of the position which it occupies between the two channel-shaped members I9 and 20, when the parts are in folded position, as shown in Fig. 6, and into the position which the said tubular member I8 occupies between the said channel-shaped bracing members I 9 and 20 when the parts are in unfolded or effective and table-supporting position, as shown in Figs, 1 and 2.

As shown in the drawings, as the tubular bracing member I8 passes into effective or bracing position between the two channel-shaped bracing members I9 and 20, the coil spring 28 urges the said channel-shaped bracing members i9 and 20 into clamping, and embracing engagement with the tubular bracing member I8 so as to hold the bracing unit I'I I BI 92Il and the leg structure I3 braced thereby in rigid and efiective or tablesupporting position.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a novel folding table, and a novel combination supporting leg and bracing unit therefor,

V and thus accomplishes its intended objects and purposes, including those hereinbefore specifically pointed out and others inherent in the invention.

.1 claim:

1. A bracing unit for a collapsible table or like article of furniture comprising a pair of I spaced channel-shaped bracing members each including an end portion adapted to be pivotally mounted on a table top or the like atthe underside thereof, an intermediate bracing member arranged between said channel-shaped bracing members and including an end portion adapted to be operatively connected to a table leg supporting structure, means yieldably urging the said channel-shaped bracing members into clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing member, each of the said three bracing members having an opening formed therein and said openings being disposed in alignment with each other, a hinge bolt extending through v the said aligned openings in the said three bracing members and hingedly connecting the said channel-shaped bracing membersand the said tubular bracing member together, the said means for yieldably urging the said channel-shaped bracing members into clamping engagement with the saidintermediate bracing member including a coil spring mounted on the said hinge bolt, and

the said coil spring having an end portionbearing against one of the said channel-shaped bracing members and cooperating with the said hinge bolt to urge the said channel-shaped bracing members into yieldable clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing member.

2. A bracing unit fora collapsible table or like article of furniture comprising a pair of spaced channel-shaped bracing members each including an end portion adapted to be pivotally mounted on a table top or the like at the underside thereof, an intermediate bracing member arranged between said channel-shaped bracing members and including an end portion adapted to be operatively connected to a table leg supporting structure, means yieldably urging the said channel-shaped bracing members into clamping engagement with the said intermedi- I ate bracing member, means for hingedly connecting the said three bracing members together comprising a hinge bolt extending through aligned openings provided in the said three bracing members, the said means yieldably urging the said two channel-shaped spaced bracing members toward each other and into yieldable clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing member comprising a coil spring carried by the said hinge bolt and including an inner end convolution bearingagainst the outer side of one of the said two channel-shaped bracing members, and the said hinge bolt including a head portion bearing against the outer side of the other one of the said two channel-shaped bracing members.

3. A bracing unit for a collapsible table or like article of furniture comprising a pair of spaced channel-shaped bracing members each including an end portion adapted to be pivotally mounted on a table top or the like at the underside thereof, an intermediate bracing member arranged between said channel-shaped bracing members and including an end portion adapted to be operatively connected to a table leg supporting structure, means yieldablyurging the said channel-shaped bracing members into clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing member, means for hingedly connecting the said three bracing members together comprising a hinge bolt extending throughaligned I said channel-shaped bracing members openings provided in the said three bracing members, .the said hinge bolt including a. head porbers, the said means yieldably urging the said 1 two channel-shaped spaced bracing member toward each other and into yieldable clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing v member vcomprising a coil spring carried by the said hinge bolt and including aninner end com a I volutionbearing against the outer side of one s of the said two channel-shaped bracing memtion bearing against the outer side of the other 3 one of said two channel-shaped bracing members, the said bracing unit including an operating member carried by the said other one of the 1 said two channel-shaped bracing members, and the said operating member including a substantially channel-shaped portion adapted to slidably embrace a portion of the said one of said channel-shaped bracing members. 7

4. A bracing unit for a collapsible table or i likearticle of furniture comprising a pair of spaced channel-shaped bracing members each including an end portion adapted to'be pivotally mounted on a table top or the like at the underside thereof, an intermediate bracing member arranged between said channel-shaped bracing members and including anend portion adapted to be operatively connected to a table leg supporting structure,'means yieldably urging the into clamping engagement with the said intermediate bracing member, means for hingedly connecting bearing against the outer side of the other one of said two channel-shaped bracing members, the

said bracing unit including an operating mem-' ber carried by the said other one of the said two channel-shaped bracing members, the said operating member including a substantially channel-shaped portion adapted to slidably embrace a portion of the said one of said channel-shaped bracing'members, and the saidoperating member including a portion projecting laterally relative to and beyond the outer side of the said other one of the said channel-shaped bracing members by which the said operating member is carried and at the side thereof at which the said head portion of the said hinge bolt is arranged.

SAM DUKE. 

